To not take neighbours parcels when they're out..

[CaseofEllen]

I live down a cul-de-sac and often (like 2/3 times a week) we end up taking in parcels for our neighbours/house down the road/house opposite. They come collect them about 7/8pm usually.

I really don't usually have an issue with this but we're expecting a our first baby in a couple of weeks and our puppy barks at the door. I know we can't stop everyone knocking on door etc but I feel like 7/8pm with a newborn and a puppy is quite late.

AIBU to not take in other people's parcels once he's born? There are 20 other houses down here they could be left at.

Stick a sign on the the door glass that says 'No callers after 7pm please-sleeping baby'. I find people are very receptive to that.

Same situation, minus the puppy. The other day we had parcels for three different neighbours, like we're the fucking sorting office. One lot of neighbours was once out when their KITCHEN was delivered!

We're thinking about getting the opt-out sticker – our post won't go to neighbours and theirs won't come to us – to cut down on doorbell-ringing from Royal Mail at least; not sure how to get rid of all the private couriers.

(Also a massive sign on the door because I'm planning a home birth and I will murder the first postie/DFS/Yodel/Hermes courier who hammers on the door during it. (We've got a doorbell but for some reason they all like to accompany it with banging.))

Once you start doing it, you get known by every courier as the one who will take them. Personally I think it's cheeky of people to regularly organise deliveries for times they are at work - your neighbours need to sort their own shit out and get parcels delivered to a local collection point.
Do yanbu from me - it's fine to go it occasionally but 3 times a week is annoying and will be inconvenient when you have a sleeping baby or are busy breastfeeding or something.

I don’t take parcels for one particular neighbour. If the courier calls I ask whatnhouse it’s for and politely refuse. Job done

As someone else said, a note on the door would suffice, I would go round at night to collect a parcel but if I saw a note I would just nip back in the morning. Refusing looks a bit rude and grumpy.

The thing is we have a note on saying 'please ring doorbell - do not knock' as this doesn't set the puppy off but they just ignore it and knock! So not sure if they actually bother to read or listen to the note..

The only note I'd be putting on my door is 'Couriers - Accepting parcels for this house only' and then I'd refuse to take any in if a courier had a cheek to chance his arm at delivering to your house. Stop being so obliging for these people who should organise their delivery to work if they are not going to be home.

I would start refusing to take in parcels OP - set a precedent as of now. It’s not just the evening collection that will be intrusive, it’s also the daytime delivery. You may nap when the baby does and you will be feeding a lot.

Thanks burritofan for mentioning the Opt out sticker which I hadn't heard of. I've just completed the online application for it.

I don't like it when my one neighbour (who I can't stand) accepts my parcels. I'm sure she does it so that I will feel uncomfortable (and I do).

Could you get one of those electronic doorbells that you with the inside plug bit and put it on a timer.

Also not all newborns sleep that early anyway.

And OP you definitely anbu.

Can you just say no to accepting the parcels?

My neighbour gets stuff delivered for her business when she knows she’s out as assumes we’ll take. The final straw was when she stopped answering the door when she’s at home and her boyfriend is round assuming we’ll take it as they’re too busy. But it’s fine for us to get out of bed twice when asleep during the day, once to take parcel and then when collected.

Nope.

Going to invest in a ring doorbell.

I just ended maternity leave. I live in an apartment block in London. Nearly empty during the day. Quite early on I stopped taking in people's parcels. I told each courier who called that I have a baby and them and any neighbours who call are very likely to wake my baby napping.

In the early stages I quickly became the go to person for the couriers to drop off other's parcels but I put a stop to it. You find that it's the same people delivering in the area from the various companies and so they quickly knew not to try to leave someone's parcel with me and that it was wasting their time.

I would addd that with a new born they're asleep most of the time and so it doesn't matter what time of day your neighbours call to collect their parcels from you they're still likely to wake your baby!

Had major neighbour issues before we moved back out of Wales. For the last year we were stuck in our house, I refused to take parcels for one direct neighbour and the one next to them. And i was very blunt about it to the postie etc, so i didnt get asked much. I also stated not to leave my parcels with them either. Postie was lovely.

I don't take in parcels for one household near me, because they're tossers. I don't care if I don't come across as Miss Congeniality.

In your case, OP, I'd put a general notice up asap. 'Not accepting parcels for other houses'. And stick to it.

your neighbours need to sort their own shit out and get parcels delivered to a local collection point. Not always possible. Many people work at places which aren't happy to take in personal mail for staff, many on-line companies don't have collection points, and some companies don't tell you when delivery is apart from "2-4 days".

I'm quite happy to take in my neighbours' parcels because it means they're happier to do favours for me when I need them.

Just a heads up.... newborns rarely sleep in the early evening

I personally would. Helping each other out is what makes the world go round.
Also, babies sleep through normal household noises, if you let them be normal household noises.
Another option might be to mention to the neighbours next time they are round, that, once the baby is here, you might not be so available to answer the door - not sure about establishing feeding, etc..... and that, if they want you to continue to take parcels in for them, then can they leave it until you (or dh) drop them round to them from now on, rather than them coming to knock your door ? Ask them what time they are in, or swap numbers so you can text each other to see if it is convenient.
IMO helping each other out is what makes a community. There will come a time when you might want a babysitter or some other help - it's good to be "in credit" with goodwill, particularly when you live in a cul-de-sac.

There is no need for parcels to be delivered to neighbours. So many shops have parcel collection points now! People who are addicted to online shopping but are never at home are cheeky, cheeky fuckers!

If you are out of the house 8 til 6 (or similar) why do you order things online without thinking about how they will be delivered to you? You know that you are expecting your neighbours to answer the door to your deliveries. Such entitled fuckery.

I had the same problem, in the end I stuck a note to say no parcels

Just stop accepting parcels, you've done your bit, enjoy some peaceful time!

Baby or no baby - I stopped taking parcels for my next door neighbours ages ago.

Absolutely sick of them - and there were a few times when he was in but seemingly couldn’t be bothered to answer his front door and another time when the had three items delivered WHEN THEY WERE ABROAD. They often had large, bulky items delivered too. The final straw was a huge BBQ; the courier had spoken to them on the phone just 10 mins earlier and they had promised they would be in! The courier was frustrated (at my neighbours) but completely understood why I wouldn’t take it - please don’t feel obliged to take anything in.

I don’t do a lot of online shopping as I am rarely at home and don’t want to burden my neighbours. If I can I will order to Amazon locker or work address. People are such CFs!

If you are out of the house 8 til 6 (or similar) why do you order things online without thinking about how they will be delivered to you?

Generally they go to the post office to collect, or they may redeliver another day. Or they might leave the parcel in a safe place. I have requested delivery on a specific day and had it arrive a day or two early on a number of occasions.

There is no need for parcels to be delivered to neighbours. So many shops have parcel collection points now! People who are addicted to online shopping but are never at home are cheeky, cheeky fuckers!

Or people who work long hours, either in a building where they aren't allowed to have personal parcels delivered, or out and about 'in the field' or on different sites etc.

Also, people who are normal sociable people who get on with their neighbours and who have normal non-MNer neighbours who are quite happy to help each other out when they can.
I'm more than happy to take in parcels for any of my neighbours if I'm in, and, as I live in a normal neighbourhood, all of my neighbours are happy to take in parcels for us too. In fact, going back a couple of years, one set of elderly neighbour used to really like taking in all the parcels, as it meant they had a chat with the delivery man and had a chat with whichever neighbou went to collect them. They were older, not able to get out much, and loved feeling useful. Now I work from home some of the week, I can help others out in this tiny little way, which barely puts me out at all.